Dana White: UFC will honor Chael Sonnen's suspension

Loophole? What loophole?

UFC President Dana White is still upset about the treatment his middleweight star Chael Sonnen has received at the hands of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) -- but that doesn't mean he's going to go against their wishes.

Sonnen saw the suspension of his fight license upheld in a hearing before the CSAC on May 18 after getting pinched for fabricating testimony in a previous hearing earlier this year stemming from his failed drug test at UFC 117 -- not to mention his felony conviction in Oregon for money laundering.

He is eligible to re-apply for his license on June 29, 2011.

That said, he's completely free to apply -- and receive -- his license in other states right away, which would allow him to get back inside the Octagon sooner rather than later.

Look no further than Strikeforce heavyweight Josh Barnett for an example of this. "The Baby Faced Assassin" has had his own highly publicized issues with the CSAC but is fighting nevertheless in Dallas, Texas on June 18.

White is adamant, however, that he won't do the same with Sonnen. Why? As he tells MMAFighting.com, Chael isn't the only one who answers to the commissions.

"We don't do that. He's going to have to pay his dues and straighten his stuff out with (the CSAC), even though I think what's happened to him is wrong. ... We will honor it. We won't let him fight anywhere. We'll honor that suspension until it's cleared up. (The CSAC would) regulate me - they're my boss too. You show me a guy who fought the government and won. Show me that guy. I want to meet him. I don't want to be the guy to try. I do what I'm told."

Sonnen was originally tapped to coach The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 opposite fellow middleweight Michael Bisping until his latest incident, with the winner becoming the new division number one contender.

"The Count," instead, will coach opposite Jason "Mayhem" Miller. 

It's important to note that even though Sonnen can begin applying for his license next month, there are no guarantees he'll actually get one. The mouthy ex-Realtor ruffled quite a few feathers during his downward spiral, including those of Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) Executive Director Keith Kizer.

So while UFC could take him overseas and have him fight as they please, the company would rather not rock the boat and risk its good standing with the commissions in California and Nevada.

Can you blame them?

For more on Sonnen's suspension click here.